Vehicle bolster with folding stakes



March 24, 1925.

E. THOMPSON 'l VEHICLE HOLSTER WITH FOLDING STAKES riginal Filed May 15,1925 Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWARD'THOMPSON, or cAsH'roN, WISCONSIN.

VEHICLE 1301191211111,l WITH FOLDING STAKES.

` Application filed May 1.5, 1923, Serial Nol.v639,161. RenewedSeptember 2, 192,4.

To all whom t may concern: `Be 1t known that I, EDWARD THOMPSON,

la. citizen of the United States, residing at Cashton, in the county` ofMonroe and State lof `ll/lisconsin, have invented certain new wagons andsleighs and the like, andthe main object of the invention is to furnishthe bolster with folding stakes in such a manner thatthe bolster may belengthened or shortened as required to suit the load to be carried. y

In most holsters having folding stakes.l these stakes' are generally'attached to the bolster insuch ja manner 'that they may be folded underor alongside the same when afiat bed is required in the vehicle, inwhich position the stakes are entirely useless.

Oneobject of the present invention is to mount the stakes on the bolsterin such a manner that they canv be utilized at all times. For instance,if a short bolster is required, the stakes are secured upright thereon,but when a longer bolster is needed,

the stakes are folded outwardly to provide a continuation in outwarddirection of the bolster, while auxiliary stakes may then be erected atthe ends of the folding stakes.

In the accompanying drawing, one embopliment of the invention isillustrated; an

Figure 1 represents a bolster provided with folding stakes forming thesubject matter of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the bolster with the stakes inerected position.

The bolster is denoted by reference numeral 10 and is preferably made ofsolid hard wood with a central opening 11 for the pintle. rlhe bolsteris preferably of square or rectangular cross section with a fiat uppersurface as at 12 and a flat short surface on the bottom as at 13 inthemiddle thereof, with the two'ends as at 14 tapering upwardly. h

On top of each end is secured, as by bolts or rivets 15, one leaf 16 ofa hingel for the foldable stake 17. The outer leaf 18 of the hinge issimilarly secured by rivets 19 or the like on the upper side of thestake. Each stake is in the shape of a truncated pyramid with flat ends,the one end 20 being preferably of the samesection as the end 21 ofthebolster 13. When in extended position, the bottom surface 22 of thestake forms a continuation in the saine plane `as thetapering bottomsurface 12 of the end of the bolster 13, f

Near the outer end of each'stakeV is furnished anga])erturc 23 running`perpendicularly through the same and the hinged leaf 18 and penetratingthe same.v 'These apertures 23 are intended to carry auxiliary stakes24'when the main orfolding stakes are in their extended position, asindicated by dot andv ydash lines inFigure l.k

Each of the folding stakes is pro-vided with a pair -ofarins 25extending-beyond the buttend of the stake and secured thereto by crossrivets or bolts26.` vOn the tapering under side 14 of the bolster issecured a flat bracket 26, secured by the same boltsor rivets 15 thathold the leaf 16 of the hinge to the bolster. 'Theseb'rackets4substantially right angles to the top face` 12 of the bolster.

In order to use the stakes as extensions to the bolsters, the bolts 29are removed and the stakes folded down as seen at the left end of thebolster in Figure 1, and the bolt is again inserted through the'openingsin the arms 25 and through a corresponding opening 30 at each` end ofthe bolster. In this manner, the stakes are rigidly secured either inupright position, as seen in Figure 2, or in folded position forming thebolster extensions, as seen in Figure 1 at the left end of the bolster.f

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: y

1. The combination with a. vehicle bolster, of folding stakes therefor;a hinge for each stake having one leaf rigidly secured to the upper sideofthe stake and its other leaf M similarly securedto the top face of thebolster, and means for holding the stake vselectively in erected andfolded positions,

the latter providing an extension for the bolster; said means includingarms secured to the stake and projecting to one end thereof, a bracketsecured on the under side of the bolster a-nd projecting beyond the endthereof, said arms having apertures, a sleeve provided at the extremeouter end of said bracket, and a bolt engaging in said apertures andsaid sleeve.

2. The combination With a vehicle bolster, of folding stakes therefor; ahinge for each stake having one leaf vrigidly secured to the upper sideof the stake and its other leaf similarlysecured to the top face ofthebolster, and means for holding the stake selectively in erected andfolded positions, the latter provi dingan extension for the bolster;said meansincluding arms secured to the stake and projecting to one endthereof, a bracket secured on the under side of the bolster andprojecting beyond the end thereof, said arms having apertures, a sleeveprovided at the extreme outer end of said bracket, a bolt engaging insaid apertures and said sleeve, and an aperture furnished in the end ofthe bolster adapted to register With the aperturesin said arms and toreceive said bolt with the stake in extended position.

3. The combination with a. vehicle bolster,

of folding stakes therefor; a hinge for each stake having one leafrigidly secured to the similarly secured to the top face of the bolster,and means for .holding the stake selectively in erected and foldedpositions, the latter. providing an extension for the bolster; saidmeans including arms secured to the stake and projecting to one endthereand to receive said bolt With the stake in extended position, saidstakes being provided vvith openings for auxiliarystakes.

4l. The combination With a vehicle bolster havingtlat ends; of foldingstakes therefor provided with corresponding fiat abutting ends, hingesfor said stakes securing the same at the respectiveends ofthe bolsterand to the upper side thereof, means for securing the stakes selectivelyin upright or extended positions; said stakes, when inv extendedposition', engaging With their flat ends, the corresponding flat endsofthe bolster thus providing a continuous beam.

' In'testimony whereof I affix my signature.

f EDWARD THOMPSON. [L 8.]

